A Luginbuel Family Legacy

1920-1940

Luginbuel Funeral Home began in 1927 in Vinita, a town in Northeastern Oklahoma. The founder, Reid Luginbuel, was a charismatic individual. He started his career as a funeral director in 1917 at Muskogee and came to Vinita from Lincon, Arkansas, where he and his wife Lola had previously owned and operated a funeral home. Jeff Luginbuel became associated with his brother in the operation of the business in 1929. He had previous experience with the Petering Funeral Home in Muskogee and the Buffington Funeral Home in Sapulpa. In June, 1934, the funeral home moved to a sixteen-room dwelling in the quiet of a residential district. The home was formerly owned by the Beattie family and is located at 332 N. Scraper.

1940-1960

In September, 1943, Jeff Luginbuel served as a Ship's Officer with the Army Transport Service for sixteen months in combat areas of the South Pacific and Atlantic. During this time, sixteen former employees of the Luginbuel Funeral Home also served in the armed forces. In June, 1945, Reid and Jeff announced a new partnership known as the Luginbuel Brothers Funeral Home. At that time, the funeral home operated with three funeral directors and embalmers, Reid, Jeff and Lola Luginbuel. Mrs. Jeff Luginbuel served as lady assistant and was in charge of music.

1960-1980

In January 1964, Jack Luginbuel, son of Reid and Lola, and his wife Lois “Tawney” Luginbuel joined the firm. Jack is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and of the mortuary school in Dallas, Texas. At this time, the firm adopted the original name — Luginbuel Funeral Home. Because of Reid, Jeff and Jack's devotion to their profession and to the public, the Luginbuel Funeral Home was elected to membership in the International Order of the Golden Rule in 1969. This was attained and renewed solely by virtue of public endorsement by those in the community who were in position to judge.

Reid, Jeff, and Lola Luginbuel remained active in the business until their deaths. Reid passed away at the age of 70 in 1969; Lola in June, 1976. In July, 1975, because of illness, Jeff sold his interest in the funeral home to Jack and Lois Luginbuel. Jeff passed away in September, 1975. Reid and Jeff were long-time civic leaders in Vinita and through the years the people of Craig County remember them as having spent many nights at the rural schools auctioning pies and boxes of fundraising drives for Christmas treats, Red Cross quotas and War Bond sales. Reid Luginbuel served as marshal of the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo Parade for 33 years. Since Reid's death, Jack has continued in that capacity.

1980-Today

Jack served as president of the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association in 1982, and in 1983 was named Oklahoma Funeral Director of the year.

Today, Jack and Lois Luginbuel along with their son David Luginbuel continue to own and operate the company with the same dedication as previous generations. The funeral homes in Vinita, Langley, Nowata, Jay, Grove and Bartlesville provide families in these areas with compassionate service to help them move forward through difficult times.